Hey everyone - it has been a LONG time since I've posted here. A tough financial situation and starting a record label forced me to part with all of my synths (Moog Micro Moog, Korg Lambda, Sequential Circuits Prophet-600, Casio CZ-1000) except for my Yamaha DX-7. Honestly, it's hard to think about and coming back here just bums me out! I hope one day I'll have replaced these and can join the conversation again.

But anyway, I do actually have a question. I'm getting ready to start a new project with some friends that would require a super bright 70s combo organ sound. As I've probably made clear by this point, I can't necessarily afford the real deal right now, or at least something that I'm going to have to put a lot of maintenance work into. Does anyone have any suggestions to getting that 60s/70s sound VOX/FARFISA sound for cheap? Thanks in advance!

Take this with a grain of salt (as I often say) since my only experience with the real things is from what I've heard on recordings but, having said that, I think those samples on E-Mu's Techno Synth Construction Yard ROM are good. (...also available in the Orbit 3 module.)

There used to be all kinds of combo organs out there. These days, though, they're mostly in the landfills.

Best bet for finding an actual one is to keep your eyes peeled on the usual sources: Ebay, CL, any used musician sites, etc. I sold the last one we had in the shop about a year ago, unfortunately or I'll drop you a line. I'll keep my eyes open, too, as I know a source for them, but he's been quiet lately.

In the meantime, you might want to try a home keyboard and see if they pass. Seems to be one of the Casio models had a pretty happenin' "96 Tears" patch on it. That was a fun find!

The DX-7 can definitely do good combo organs, although it takes a bit of work to make them buzz like a Vox. Get searching on the web. That's your cheapest option.

The Casio CZ is even better though, that's the one with Blue Monster 65's "96 Tears" patch.

Do you have a soft sampler? The Emu Farfisa and Vox sounds are spot on, they've been in every Emu sampler library since the Emax. I have them imported into Kontakt. I also have the vintagekeyboards.com stuff, they're excellent as meatballfulton said. He's got the Gibson that does Beatles Lucy in the Sky opening riff.

As others said, you can likely get close w/ the DX-7. The trick to fake organs is just as much in the processing ... record it through an amp, give it air, add spring reverb, a dab of distortion, EQ to taste, etc. Props on sacrificing your other boards for starting a label, BTW.

An underrated (and sometimes underpriced) combo organ is the Farfisa Matador-R. There's a couple of versions, and the one to get is the one w/ the drawbars and built-in rhythm box. Instant High Llamas.

Any of the Casio WK series with the Tonewheel Organ sim have all the necessary footages to do a fantastic Vox Continental sound with a little tweaking. It can even do a great impression of the Lowrey/Gibson G101 for the Beatles "Lucy in the Sky" and The Doors "Waiting for the Sun" sounds. I often use real Vox organs on gigs but sometimes use the Casio as a substitute.

How cheap? I know the ROMpler suggestion can draw a lot of ire from folks here, but a used Roland JV-1010 or 1080 with the 'keys of the 60s and 70s has a lot of great combo organ options, and both the unit and card could be gotten for less than $300 if you're patient.